With total college loan debts pushing nearly a trillion dollars in the U.S., a group of Chicago students are pushing for student loan reforms.
Students
told stories of promising futures soon replaced by a grim employment
outlook through their prepared speeches at the Chicago Temple United
Methodist Church Saturday afternoon.
Amanda Weaver, a Loyola University
master’s student, told the crowd of about 200 parents, students and
concerned community members that her student loans added up to a
combined total pf $134,000.
“My parents, teachers, guidance
counselors all told me ‘Go to school, take the loans, invest in my
future,’” Weaver said speaking from the church pulpit. “I was told I
would get nowhere in the job market without this expensive degree. Well,
the truth is, after I graduated there were no jobs in sight.”
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Upon returning home last year from serving two years in the U.S.
Army, Asma Njesada said her greatest challenge was finding a job.
Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) said she was upset to see three of her
neighborhood schools "pitted" against each other at a Chicago Public
Schools' hearing last night regarding the possible closure of 
A new House bill would make job creation an important element in contract bids for the federal government. 
Freshman lawmaker 